America ships electronic waste overseas

Associated Press ^ | Nov 18, 2007 | TERENCE CHEA

[monkeycard]

SAN FRANCISCO - Most Americans think they're helping the earth when they recycle their old computers, televisions and cell phones. But chances are they're contributing to a global trade in electronic trash that endangers workers and pollutes the environment overseas.

While there are no precise figures, activists estimate that 50 to 80 percent of the 300,000 to 400,000 tons of electronics collected for recycling in the U.S. each year ends up overseas. Workers in countries such as China, India and Nigeria then use hammers, gas burners and their bare hands to extract metals, glass and other recyclables, exposing themselves and the environment to a cocktail of toxic chemicals.

...

[Grizzled Bear]

Is this one of those “Unintended Consequences” thingies?

[SIDENET]

I did a google search for the author's name. He seems to be some greenie activist who happens to write articles.

Of course, this activism somehow qualifies as "news" to the AP.

[edcoil]

AP runs yet again another America’s fault.

[ConservativeMind]

If other countries find they want stuff our enviro-wackos don’t want us to have, then I don’t see a problem with it.

If the enviro-wackos insist we must always dispose of the crud, then they are insane, too.

[EagleUSA]

HORSE CRAP.

[NewHampshireDuo]

So it’s our problem how the workers in another country do their reclaim? (IIRC, in the 1960s the workers at the lead-acid battery recyling place in my hometown were still smashing the batteries with sledgehammers and extracting the lead plates by hand.)

[Mygirlsmom]

Anyone who thinks he is helping the planet with any single action is a doofus.

Conversely, anyone who believes the planet is being harmed by any single action is a double doofus.

[TaMoDee]

I have a friend that removes components and chemically removes the gold. At $800/troy oz he does quite well.
I suspect that China and other SE Asia countries are doing the same.

[Vigilanteman]

Lieberals have always had a problem with people earning an honest living. They think they can build an economy based on government services and suing and auditing each other.

[acapesket]

Apparently they are surfing in shitholes to extract metal according to one of last night’s threads.
Ain’t life Grand in Chi-Com Country?

[Army Air Corps]

Have you read about poop prospecting in China?

[FormerACLUmember]

Only Associated Press could turn recycling into anti-American propaganda.

[Grizzled Bear]

Lieberals have always had a problem with people earning an honest living. They think they can build an economy based on government services and suing and auditing each other.

---

That reminds me of my exciting new concept that will revolutionize industry by supplying all of the worlds energy needs at absolutely no cost.

You see it’s powered by Unicorn Farts...

[Army Air Corps]

Here is the story.

[Jaysun]

Better to send that crap overseas than have it “killing us” here. Wise up. Anytime I see anything warning of environmental damage these days I can almost always count on it being a bunch of leftist nonsense.

[Enchante]

LOL. Most Democrats are Double-Doofus to the nth power!!

[mwollstonecraft]

By the way, remove the hard drive from your computer before recycling it. Or use a software program to “erase” data on the drive.

[monkeycard]

Anytime I see anything warning of environmental damage these days I can almost always count on it being a bunch of leftist nonsense.

Agreed. On top of that, it's really good to see that these environazis are unable to affect the free market.